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Journal article
Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger
Astrophysical journal. Letters, v 48(2), L12
20 Oct 2017
Abstract
On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of similar to 1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg(2) at a luminosity distance of 40(-8)(+8) Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 M-circle dot. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at similar to 40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over similar to 10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient's position similar to 9 and similar to 16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.
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Details
- Title
- Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger
- Creators
- Las Cumbres Observatory Group (Collaboration)Yvonne Becherini - Institutionen för fysik och elektroteknik (IFE)Christian Farnier - Stockholms universitetDmitry Prokhorov - Institutionen för fysik och elektroteknik (IFE)Michael Punch - Université Paris Diderot, FranceB. P. Abbott - LIGO, California Institute of Technology, USAR. Abbott - LIGO, California Institute of Technology, USAT. D. Abbott - Louisiana State UniversityF. AcerneseK. AckleyC. Adams - LIGO Livingston Observatory, USANaoko Kurahashi Neilson - Drexel University, PhysicsB. Relethford - Drexel UniversityMark Richman - Drexel UniversityL. Wills - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Astrophysical journal. Letters, v 48(2), L12
- Publisher
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000413211000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85037171677
- Other Identifier
- 991021863002204721
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- Collaboration types
- Industry collaboration
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Astronomy & Astrophysics